Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Romance of the West Chamber

Chapter 78: Romance of the West Chamber

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Plum blossoms bloomed at the corner of the wall.

A branch stretched out diagonally and horizontally in front of the exquisitely

carved window lattice. There were plum blossoms on it, and a few of them had

already bloomed.

The petals were pink and delicate, and there was a faint fragrance.

Just like the girl in the window, under the cover of the snowflakes outside the window, they had a lonely beauty.

Luo Qingzhou stepped on the cobblestone path and walked to the slanted plum tree in front of the window. He lowered his head and cupped his hands respectfully. “Second Young Miss.”

Qin Weimo had already stood up from the chair and looked at him gently from the window. A reserved smile appeared on her beautiful face as she said softly, “Brother-in-law, you can do away with the formalities. It’s cold outside. Come in quickly.”

Luo Qingzhou glanced around the room.

Thin smoke curled up from the incense burner. The charcoal in the fireplace was red, and the ground was covered with a thick snow-white carpet. There was a vase on the table with a few pink winter plums in it.

A small hand warmer was placed by the table.

At the corner, there was a soft couch.

There was a pink bedding with peony embroidered on it and a small coffee table in the middle. On the coffee table was a game of Go.

There were also a few pieces of girl’s clothes in the room.

Even standing under the roof outside the window, Luo Qingzhou could smell the fragrance of a young girl wafting from the house. This was a study room that belonged to a young girl. It was possible that no man had ever entered.

so…

Luo Qingzhou was still standing outside. He cupped his hands and said, “Second Young Miss, I won’t go in. Madam asked me to visit you. Since you’re writing, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll visit you next time.”

Zhu’er, who was standing at the door, immediately said anxiously, “Sir, you’re not allowed to leave!”

After saying that, she felt that her tone was wrong and said angrily, “You have just arrived and haven’t even chatted with Second Young Miss. How can you leave so quickly?”

Qin Weimo lowered her head and kept the brush and ink. She rolled up the paper and looked at him gently. “Brother-in-law, I’m done writing…”

Luo Qingzhou did not know what to say.

He turned to look at Bai Ling, who was standing under the roof not far away. After hesitating for a moment, he walked into the eaves and approached the window. He looked at the weak girl in the window and said, “Second Young Miss, what do you want to talk about?”

Qin Weimo stood by the window and smiled bitterly. “Brother-in-law, are you just going to stand outside like this?”

Luo Qingzhou said, “I’m all right. This is good.”

With only a window separating them, both fell into silence.

Bai Ling, who was standing not far away, suddenly walked to the door and pulled Zhu’er, who was staring at them intently. “Let’s go to the room next door to chat.”

Zhu’er was forcefully pulled away by her.

The scene fell into silence.

Snowflakes were falling outside, and it was also silent.

Luo Qingzhou felt that it was quite awkward to stand like this. He said, “Second

Young Miss, didn’t you say last time that you wanted to read a book like

Fragrant Boudoir?”

Qin Weimo’s eyes lit up. “Brother-in-law, did you bring it for me?”

Luo Qingzhou shook his head and said, “I didn’t bring it, but I remember a few stories similar to Fragrant Boudoir. If you want to hear them, I can tell you.”

When Qin Weimo heard this, she nodded happily. “Yes, Brother-in-law, I want to hear it.”

Luo Qingzhou pondered for a moment and said, “Then I’ll tell you the story of the Romance of the West Chamber today.”

Due to Second Young Miss’ sentimentality and poor health, he decided that no matter what story he told, he had to make up a better ending.

In any case, it was a novel. He could just make up a happy ending.

Qin Weimo said gently, “Brother-in-law, can you come in and talk? It’s cold outside. Let’s sit on the couch. It’ll be warmer there.”

Luo Qingzhou glanced at the soft couch in the room and did not dare to enter.

There was not only a woman’s bedding and items on it, but also two pieces of feminine clothing. If he went in and sat opposite his sister-in-law and chatted with her, his mother-in-law would probably immediately rush over with a knife when she found out.

“No need. I’ll just stand here and talk. Second Young Miss, if you feel cold, you can sit on the bed.”

Luo Qingzhou declined politely. Afraid that she would continue to invite him, he hurriedly told her a story.

“The era is unknown. There was a person with the surname Cui. He was an official of the previous dynasty, but unfortunately, he passed away because of an illness. He only had one daughter. Her name was Yingying. She was 19 years old. She was good at embroidery, poetry, and books. There was nothing she could not do…”

“One day, a man called Zhang Sheng toured the temple and met Cui Yingying…”

Romance of the West Chamber was originally an opera. Luo Qingzhou remembered the story, so he only briefly explained the key plot.

Qin Weimo held her breath and listened attentively.

When she heard that the two of them had met at the temple, her eyes flickered. When she heard that the temple was surrounded, she frowned and her face was filled with nervousness…

When she heard that Madame Cui-the mother of Cui Yingying-had broken her promise and reneged on the marriage, anger appeared on her face again.

Luo Qingzhou stood under the roof outside the window. Dressed in a long robe, he spoke slowly.

Second Young Miss Qin stood by the window and looked at his handsome face, listening in a daze.

At some point, Bai Ling and Zhu’er had walked out of the room and were eavesdropping at the door. They were also silent.

“After a few twists and turns, with the help of the matchmaker, Yingying finally came to Zhang Sheng’s residence for a private meeting. Madame Cui noticed the signs and interrogated the matchmaker…”

Qin Weimo’s eyes were filled with tears when Luo Qingzhou talked about Yingying going to the resting station and sending Zhang Sheng off when the latter was going to head to the capital for the examination.

Zhu’er, who was eavesdropping behind the door, also had reddened eyes.

However, the ending was still beautiful.

“Zhang Sheng was the top scorer. After a few twists and turns, he finally married Yingying and lived happily with her. They even gave birth to a few chubby boys and a few beautiful daughters…

Luo Qingzhou made the ending more perfect and blissful.

After the story was finished, Qin Weimo stood by the window. Her eyes were red and she did not speak for a long time.

Although she was crying, the suppressed pessimism in her heart was instantly released. She felt much more relaxed. Her mind was filled with the beautiful love story between Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying. Those thoughts of life and death were gone.

“Second Young Miss, it’s getting late. I should go back to study. Goodbye.”

After Luo Qingzhou finished speaking, he did not stay any longer. He cupped his hands and left.

Qin Weimo stood there in a daze. When Luo Qingzhou was about to walk out of the small courtyard, she shouted, “Brother-in-law, will you come again tomorrow?”

Luo Qingzhou stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. “Madam said that

I only need to come once every three days.”

Qin Weimo looked at him and was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, “But what if I want you to come every day?”

These words came from an unmarried woman, and it was her sister-in-law who said it to her brother-in-law. It was really… too bold.

Luo Qingzhou was stunned for a moment and did not know how to answer.

Bai Ling, who was standing at the door, looked at him.

Zhu’er was even more shocked. How could Young Miss…

Qin Weimo smiled gently and broke the awkward atmosphere.

“Brother-in-law, I was just joking with you. Thank you for today. I am very happy. I will wait for your visit three days later.”

Luo Qingzhou made a sound of acknowledgment.

He did not say anything else. He turned to look at Bai Ling at the door. “You’re not leaving?”

Bai Ling was stunned for a moment. When she came back to her senses, she hurriedly ran out of the eaves, opened the flower umbrella in her hand, and waved at the weak girl in the window. “Second Young Miss, we’re leaving. See you in three days.”

She ran to Luo Qingzhou and handed him the flower umbrella.

Luo Qingzhou took the umbrella and held it above her head to shelter her from the snow. They walked out of the small courtyard side by side and disappeared around the corner.

Qin Weimo stood in the window and was stunned for a while before muttering, “Zhu’er, do you think Brother-in-law will be like Zhang Sheng, the top scorer in high school?”

Zhu’er looked at her worriedly and said in a low voice, “Miss, you… How could you say that just now?”

Qin Weimo came back to her senses and smiled. She opened the rolled-up rice paper and looked at the poem on it. Her beautiful face was as calm as water. “I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart. Why can’t I say it?” Zhu’er widened her eyes and looked at her in astonishment.

Outside the window, snowflakes fell silently.

The red plum that was slanted under the eaves was wrapped in the snow that had just fallen. It stood proudly, its fragrance still lingering.

“Sir, the story you told just now was nice. Chan… Miss and Chanchan haven’t heard it yet. You should tell it to them later.”

“I have to go back to study.”

“But you told Second Young Miss, and even Zhu’er heard it. I heard it too. If you don’t tell Miss and Chanchan, they will be angry,” Bai Ling insisted.

“If they’re angry, so be it.”

“If Miss is angry, Chanchan will let you know what it means to kill with one strike!” Bai Ling threatened.

“Miss won’t be angry over such a small matter. You don’t have to lie to me or scare me.”

“But Chanchan will be angry.”

“And why’s that?” Luo Qingzhou asked.

“Because… Because you don’t treat Miss well. Miss likes to listen to stories, but no one tells them to her.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s absolutely true. Whoever lies is a…”

“Dog?” Luo Qingzhou cut in.

“In any case, whoever lies isn’t a human,” Bai Ling said.

Bai Ling thought to herself, “I’m a flower, the most beautiful flower!”

As she spoke, she sniffed the flower in her hand again and leaned toward the young man beside her.

It was as if he was covering her under an umbrella, or holding her in his arms..